National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, has launched a fundraising campaign to help students of poor economic background continue their online classes as the institute has been completely online for the 2020-2021 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said.
NIT Durgapur’s statement said on Saturday that decision (completely online) posed a major challenge to the current group of young students, many of whom come from poor economic backgrounds, and cannot afford to purchase laptops/smartphones and avail of net connectivity.
"NIT Durgapur is trying to do its best to provide all kinds of assistance to these students to get the required IT hardware and broadband/net connectivity, and also to pay their school fees and other fees so that their education continues," the statement said.
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The Institute said it is very important to bridge the digital divide that is threatening the future of many students in the current pandemic situation.
"Because of the lack of resources and facilities at the institutional level to provide distance learning and learning to our students, as none of us has ever expected this kind of unprecedented situation before, it is high time that we set up a Digital Learning Center in our institute to make the new normal online/digital education system more effective," the statement said.
It said the institute started a fundraising campaign-#NITDAlumni4edu, NIT Durgapur urged its alumni to come forward and "donate to a cause that will ensure that every student continues to learn and that his/her economic condition does not become a barrier to fulfilling his/her dreams." "We would also welcome CSR funds, and not to mention any small or large donation would also be very appreciable.
Those alumni "who are in the telecommunications services sector" have been urged "to help students who are struggling with poor connectivity at home," he added.
